Spool-holder.



Patented Fen-9, '1909...I

' B. Fe FORD.

sPooL HOLDER.

APIPLIOATION FILED NOV'. 25.1908.

' wil?" enzo eeeffmw.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

s PETERS ca .WAsr-lmcrnn', c:A c.

nvewto'n UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

BETTINA FILLMORE FORD, OF CHEVY CHASE, MARYLAND.

SPOOL-I-IOLDER.

T 0 all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, BETTINA FILLMORE FORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chevy Chase, in the county of Montgomery and State ot Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spool- Holders, of which the following is a specification.

Mv invention relates to improvements in spool holders, and it consists in the constructions, combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide an attractive and compact device tor retainingr spools in convenient position for ready use at any desired time.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved spool holder adapted to eHiciently protect the spool thread from becoming soiled or injured, and to maintain any desired tension on the thread for preventinof tangling and waste of the latter.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and in which similar reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the several views: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my invention for containing a plurality of spools; FiO'. 2 is a side elevation, on a larger scale, of the free end of one of the spindles shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section of the construction shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a similar section, illustrating a modification in which the spindle is provided with a stepped recess; Fig. 5 is a central section of my preferred construction for a single spool; Fig. 6 is a side elevation ol the construction shown in Fig. 5, with the receptacle open and the cover portion thereof shown in section constituting a support for the body portion; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the free end of the spindle shown in Figs. 5 and 6; Fig. 8 is a side elevation ot a modified form of spindle, and Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a further slight modification.

Referring especially to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, 1 indicates the body portion of a receptacle, in which are secured a symmetrical seriesA of spindles 2 for supporting spools 3. The cover portion 4 of the receptacle carries Va complementary series of spindles 2, which are positioned to be equally spaced between the several spindles of the body portionwhen said cover and body portions are joined to close the receptacle. This arrangement of the two series Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 25, 1998.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

serial No. 464,413.

of spindles provides a compact construction, in which a maximum space'is provided between the several spindles of each series when the receptacle is open for use. This improvement provides a very advantageous construction, in which a maximum number of spools .are contained in the closed receptacle in such arrangement that, when the receptacle is opened for use, ample space will be provided between the several spools of each series to permit the convenient positioning and removal of spools on said spindles, and the insertion of the spool threads in the tensioning device carried by the spindles. The free end ot' each spindle 2 is provided with a peripheral recess 5 in which is closely seated a helical spring 6; the inner end of said spring being extended at '7 beyond the periphery oi the spindle and slidably fitting in a bore 8 in the latter. In the operation of this construction, the spool is slipped to position on the spindle past the resilient projection 7 of the spring, which latter constitutes a stop for retaining the spool on the spindle. The s ool thread is then wound about the coils of t ie helical spring 6 until it enters between a suiiicient number of said coils to produce the desired tension, or resistance, on the thread. Vil hen any required length oi` thread has been withdrawn against the tension of the spring coils and severed, the remaining end of the spool thread will be securely retained by the tension between the several coils; thereby preventing tangling and waste of the thread, and presenting the end of the latter in convenient position for any subsequent use.

Fig. 4 illustrates a slight modification, in which the peripheral recess oi the spindle is stepped, or formed of increased depth at its medial portion 9. ln this modification7 the thread will pass4 through the several coils of the helical spring 1() and seat on the bottom of the stepped recess 9; thereby producing a greater tension on the thread than the previously described construction.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate my preferred construction for a single spool holder. In this construction,'a spindle 11 is secured, as by a screw 12, to the body portion 13 of a receptacle; said body portion preferably terminating below the mid-length of the spindle 11, to expose the spool for convenient handling when the receptacle is open in use. The cover portion 14 of the receptacle lits over the body portion 13 when closed, and is shown formed of suflicient dimension to permit the retention of a thimble 15 on top of the spool 16 and over the free end of the spindle 11. 1When the receptacle is opened for use, the cover portion 111- can be tted over the bottom of the body portion 13, as shown in Fig. 6, to constitute a convenient supporting base and prevent displacement and accidental loss of said cover portion. The free end of the spindle 11 is provided with a tapered head 17 having a radiallyextending shoulder 18, for permitting free positioning' of the spool on the spindle and efliciently retaining said spool against accidental displacement. A feed slot 19 extends substantially tangentially to the lower periphery of a bore 2() extending through the tapered head 17 of the spindle 3 said bore being formed either cylindrical, or tapered from each end toward its medial portion. In this construction, the spool is readily slipped past the tapered head to position on the spindle, and the spool thread is guided through the feed slot 19 into the bore 20; the tangential arrangement of said feed slot preventing displacement of the thread from the bore therethrough. ll he bore 20 can be formed of sufficient size to frictionally engage the thread to produce the desired tension on the latter. However, if it be desired to increase the tension on the thread, the latter can be passed about the head 17 and again guided into the bore 20 by the feed slot.

Fig. 8 illustrates a modified construction inwhich a helical spring 21 has one end 22 anchored in the top of the spindle 23, and its other end 24 extended beyond the peripheryT of said spindle and secured therein at 25. In this construction, the thread can be passed back and forth between any reouired number of coils of the spring 21 to produce the desired tension, and the projecting end 25 constitutes a yielding stop for retaining the spool 26 in position on the spindle.

Fig. 9 illustrates a modification in which a helical spring 27 is positioned axially on the end of the spindle 2S, with its lower end 29 anchored therein. rIhe upper end of the spring 27 is bent downwardly at 3() against the inner surface of the spring coils, and anchored at 31 in the top of the spindle. In this modification, the spool thread is wound about the spring 27 a sullicient number of times to pass said thread between the required number of the spring coils for producing the desired tension; the downwardly projecting portion 30 of the spring constituting a stop for efficiently preventing displacement of the thread from between the several coils of the spring. The spindle 28 is shown provided with a tapered head 32 having a radially-extending shoulder 33, for retaining the spool 34 in position on the spindle.

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory constructions, but changes could be made within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Iletters-Fatent is:

1. In a spool holder, the combination of a receptacle comprising body and cover p0rtions, a series of spindles carried by said body portion, a series of spindles carried by said cover portion in position to be equally spaced between the body-portion spindles when the receptacle is closed, and means carried by said several spindles for retaining spools thereon and guiding the spool threads, substantially as described. 2. In a spool holder, the combination of a spindle, and a common means provided With` a bore, and a helical spring seated in such" recess, one end of said spring being extended outwardly beyond the periphery of said spindle and returned in sliding engagement with such bore, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I a'l'IiX my signature in presence of two witnesses. BETTINA F ILIJMORE FORD.

IWitnesses G. Arnns, B. M. OFFUTT. 

